Lowell Cohn: While Clay Matthews talks his talk, 49ers just win

Linebacker Patrick Willis enters Candlestick for the season opener. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

September 9, 2013, 12:08AM

09/09/2013

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SAN FRANCISCO -- There was a dominant theme leading up to the 49ers' 34-28 win over the Green Bay Packers in San Francisco's first game of the season. So, pay attention.

The week prior, everyone talked about the read-option play quarterback Colin Kaepernick runs like an artist. Fans talked about it. Little children talked about it. Grandmothers talked about it.

The read option — something only aficionados knew about a few years ago — became common parlance around here, the very ground of being. People in supermarkets were handing off wheat bread near the deli aisle to demonstrate the read-option.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers

Linebacker Patrick Willis enters Candlestick for the season opener. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Patrick Willis fires up the Candlestick crowd during introductions. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Justin Smith, left, and NaVorro Bowman wrap up Eddie Lacey in the 1st quarter. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Aldon Smith sacks Aaron Rodgers in the 1st quarter. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Aldon Smith celebrates his 1st quarter sack of Aaron Rodgers. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

David Bakhtiari, right, tries to untangled his helmet from Vernon Davis' after they were stuck while blocking. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Vance McDonald rumbles for a 25 yard reception. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick scrambles out of the pocket on in the 1st quarter on Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Anquan Boldin outruns the Green Bay defense for 22 yards in the 2nd quarter. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Tarell Brown celebrates after recovering an Eddie Lacey fumble. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Clay Matthews hog ties Colin Kaepernick out-of-bounds for a penalty. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick calms down Joe Staley after a sideline tussle when the 49er quarterback was hit out-of-bounds. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Coach Jim Harbaugh loses his cool after Joe Staley was called for a personal foul protecting Colin Kaepernick after Clay Matthews tacked the quarterback out of bounds. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Coach Jim Harbaugh loses his cool after Joe Staley was called for a personal foul protecting Colin Kaepernick after Clay Matthews tacked the quarterback out of bounds. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Coach Jim Harbaugh loses his cool after Joe Staley was called for a personal foul protecting Colin Kaepernick after Clay Matthews tacked the quarterback out of bounds. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Anquan Boldin scores on a 10 yard pass in the 2nd quarter. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Coach Jim Harbaugh loses his cool after Joe Staley was called for a personal foul protecting Colin Kaepernick after Clay Matthews tacked the quarterback out of bounds. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Jerron McMillian upends Anquan Boldin after a long gain. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Safety Eric Reid wraps up Jordy Nelson in the 2nd quarter. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Safety Eric Reid is upended after a 2nd quarter interception. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Anquan Bolding leaps for a catch over Packer defenders. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Anquan Bolding leaps for a catch over Packer defenders. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Anquan Boldin out jumps Sam Shields, left, and Jerron McMillian for a long gain in the 1st quarter. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick throws a long pass to Anquan Boldin. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Vernon Davis, right, and Colin Kaepernick celebrate in the end zone after a 20 yard 1st quarter touchdown. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick congratulates Vernon Davis after his touchdown catch. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Frank Gore finds a hole under defenders. Gore had 44 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Kyle Williams scrambles for extra yards after the catch. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

M.D. Jennings tackles Vernon Davis after a 37 yard reception in the 3rd quarter. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Kyle Williams drops a long pass from Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Frank Gore averaged only 2 yards per carry against the Packers on Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Anquan Bolding slips a tackle on a 43 yard, 4th quarter reception. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Carlos Rogers and Aldon Smith take down Eddie Lacy in the 3rd quarter. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Tramon Williams grabs Anquan Boldin by the face mask at the end of his 43 yard, 4th quarter reception. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Frank Gore scores the go ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick congratulates Frank Gore after his touchdown run. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick scrambles out of the pocket. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Anquan Boldin struggles in the grasp of Sam Shields. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Anquan Boldin runs off the field after starting his 49er career with a 13 reception, 208 yard game on Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Frank Gore. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick talks with Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the game. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick runs off the field after completing 27 passes for 412 yards against the Packers. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Kendall Hunter finds a hole behind the block of Anthony Davis. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick throws a long pass to Anquan Boldin. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick talks over plays with coach Jim Harbaugh during a timeout. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick scrambles along the sidelines near coach Jim Harbaugh. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick scrambles along the sidelines near coach Jim Harbaugh. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 34-28, in the season opener at Candlestick Park on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

And then the game started and the craziest two things happened. After all that noise on TV and in Green Bay and in bars, the Niners barely used the read-option. And one of the Packers' defenders, Clay Matthews by name, went absolutely bat guano over the read-option in its absence. It's always sad to see a grown man lose his mind. More on Matthews anon.

Why is it important that the 49ers did not use the read-option?

Because they could beat the Packers without it. Because they could — and did — beat the Packers playing straight-up football, playing the regular variety we've known about forever. You know — throw the ball, run the ball. Play defense when appropriate.

That's how good the 49ers are. They can beat you with trickery and they can beat you without trickery. Mostly, they just beat you.

If you want to know the truth, Kaepernick led the Niners to a win without the read option and without much of a running game, either. He led the Niners to a win by being himself.

What is himself?

Himself is an incredibly efficient passer with the quarterback's demeanor — which means nothing scares him, no how, no way.

After the game, coach Jim Harbaugh said of his quarterback, "Some laser-like throws downfield. Pinpoint accuracy. Managing the chaos of the game. Never blinked. Never flinched at any time. Just kept executing."

Harbaugh also said, "Colin throws as good or better than anybody I've ever seen on the run."

Hard to argue with that, considering Kaepernick outplayed Aaron Rodgers. He really did. He outplayed Rodgers who has better receivers. If you beamed in from Mars — not something I advocate — and watched the game and didn't know who was who, you'd pick Kaepernick as the best quarterback on the field. Kaepernick is so good, so self-reliant he is the new Brett Favre. He could turn out even better.

And that leads to this Kaepernick thought: The Niners are his team. Certainly on offense they are. His team. They could be the Kaepernicks, although "49ers" has more of a ring to it. Kaepernick beat the Packers — and the Packers are very good — with an old receiver, Anquan Boldin, and a tight end, Vernon Davis. That's about it. He beat them because Kaepernick is Kaepernick.

Why didn't he run the read-option?

"They were taking that away," he said. "They're going to dictate who has the ball."

Fascinating. Green Bay dictated who had the ball and Green Bay still got dictated to.

Kaepernick also addressed how the Packers flapped their gums before the game saying they would hit him as he performed the read-option. Matthews was the primary gum flapper — and I swear I'll get to him in a moment. "I'm not worried about what people say," Kaepernick said. "If intimidation is your game, I hope you have a better one."

Intimidation was Matthews' game. It turned him into an idiot for one play. I don't know the man. It's possible he's an idiot all the time, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

In the second quarter, Kaepernick ran a keeper, and Matthews, who was assigned to him on most plays — the hall monitor — ran him out of bounds and then tackled him out of bounds and, as Kaepernick fell, Matthews grabbed him around the neck like a mugger grabbing a mark in a dark alley.

Everyone knew Matthews would hit Kaepernick within the context of the game. He had said he would. No one knew Matthews would strangle Kaepernick outside the context of the game. One assumes Matthews was so brain-addled thinking about the read-option he lost track of reality for the briefest moment.

Forty-Niners' left tackle Joe Staley noticed Matthews committing battery on his quarterback and rushed over to express his opinion. He grabbed Matthews' arms — Harbaugh calls this "locking a guy up." And Staley prevented Matthews from inflicting further harm on 49ers players and peanut vendors and cheerleaders.

"I didn't want to see Kap get nailed like he did out of bounds," Staley said. "That's our guy out there. Some of it was the comments he (Matthews) made this week about going after our quarterback. I wanted just to grab him and let him know that's not going to fly."

Did Staley say anything to Matthews?

"Yeah, I said, 'That's not going to happen today.'<TH>"

You need to know what transpired on the very next play. Kaepernick hit Boldin with a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Important. Extremely significant.

The Niners were saying — without having to say it — you win football games by playing football. You don't win by talking or administering cheap shots or pretending to be tough. You play football. So, on the next play the Niners played football and scored. And for the 60 minutes of the game, the 49ers played better football than the Packers. And that is the only thing that matters.

After he caught the touchdown pass, Boldin ran through the end zone and kept running to the stands where he slapped hands with fans. He was expressing joy. He also was rubbing it in.

SAN FRANCISCO -- There was a dominant theme leading up to the 49ers' 34-28 win over the Green Bay Packers in San Francisco's first game of the season. So, pay attention.

The week prior, everyone talked about the read-option play quarterback Colin Kaepernick runs like an artist. Fans talked about it. Little children talked about it. Grandmothers talked about it.

The read option — something only aficionados knew about a few years ago — became common parlance around here, the very ground of being. People in supermarkets were handing off wheat bread near the deli aisle to demonstrate the read-option.

And then the game started and the craziest two things happened. After all that noise on TV and in Green Bay and in bars, the Niners barely used the read-option. And one of the Packers' defenders, Clay Matthews by name, went absolutely bat guano over the read-option in its absence. It's always sad to see a grown man lose his mind. More on Matthews anon.

Why is it important that the 49ers did not use the read-option?

Because they could beat the Packers without it. Because they could — and did — beat the Packers playing straight-up football, playing the regular variety we've known about forever. You know — throw the ball, run the ball. Play defense when appropriate.

That's how good the 49ers are. They can beat you with trickery and they can beat you without trickery. Mostly, they just beat you.

If you want to know the truth, Kaepernick led the Niners to a win without the read option and without much of a running game, either. He led the Niners to a win by being himself.

What is himself?

Himself is an incredibly efficient passer with the quarterback's demeanor — which means nothing scares him, no how, no way.

After the game, coach Jim Harbaugh said of his quarterback, "Some laser-like throws downfield. Pinpoint accuracy. Managing the chaos of the game. Never blinked. Never flinched at any time. Just kept executing."

Harbaugh also said, "Colin throws as good or better than anybody I've ever seen on the run."

Hard to argue with that, considering Kaepernick outplayed Aaron Rodgers. He really did. He outplayed Rodgers who has better receivers. If you beamed in from Mars — not something I advocate — and watched the game and didn't know who was who, you'd pick Kaepernick as the best quarterback on the field. Kaepernick is so good, so self-reliant he is the new Brett Favre. He could turn out even better.

And that leads to this Kaepernick thought: The Niners are his team. Certainly on offense they are. His team. They could be the Kaepernicks, although "49ers" has more of a ring to it. Kaepernick beat the Packers — and the Packers are very good — with an old receiver, Anquan Boldin, and a tight end, Vernon Davis. That's about it. He beat them because Kaepernick is Kaepernick.

Why didn't he run the read-option?

"They were taking that away," he said. "They're going to dictate who has the ball."

Fascinating. Green Bay dictated who had the ball and Green Bay still got dictated to.

Kaepernick also addressed how the Packers flapped their gums before the game saying they would hit him as he performed the read-option. Matthews was the primary gum flapper — and I swear I'll get to him in a moment. "I'm not worried about what people say," Kaepernick said. "If intimidation is your game, I hope you have a better one."

Intimidation was Matthews' game. It turned him into an idiot for one play. I don't know the man. It's possible he's an idiot all the time, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

In the second quarter, Kaepernick ran a keeper, and Matthews, who was assigned to him on most plays — the hall monitor — ran him out of bounds and then tackled him out of bounds and, as Kaepernick fell, Matthews grabbed him around the neck like a mugger grabbing a mark in a dark alley.

Everyone knew Matthews would hit Kaepernick within the context of the game. He had said he would. No one knew Matthews would strangle Kaepernick outside the context of the game. One assumes Matthews was so brain-addled thinking about the read-option he lost track of reality for the briefest moment.

Forty-Niners' left tackle Joe Staley noticed Matthews committing battery on his quarterback and rushed over to express his opinion. He grabbed Matthews' arms — Harbaugh calls this "locking a guy up." And Staley prevented Matthews from inflicting further harm on 49ers players and peanut vendors and cheerleaders.

"I didn't want to see Kap get nailed like he did out of bounds," Staley said. "That's our guy out there. Some of it was the comments he (Matthews) made this week about going after our quarterback. I wanted just to grab him and let him know that's not going to fly."

Did Staley say anything to Matthews?

"Yeah, I said, 'That's not going to happen today.'<TH>"

You need to know what transpired on the very next play. Kaepernick hit Boldin with a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Important. Extremely significant.

The Niners were saying — without having to say it — you win football games by playing football. You don't win by talking or administering cheap shots or pretending to be tough. You play football. So, on the next play the Niners played football and scored. And for the 60 minutes of the game, the 49ers played better football than the Packers. And that is the only thing that matters.

After he caught the touchdown pass, Boldin ran through the end zone and kept running to the stands where he slapped hands with fans. He was expressing joy. He also was rubbing it in.